Triple the rate of other overnight bookings, Swedish camping accounted for 80% of last year's increase in tourism.

Occupancy in Swedish campsites increased by 6.1% to 15.2 million overnight stays last year, making this the largest growth factor in the nation's tourism industry. By comparison, although it also grew overall, the entire rooms and housing tourism sector expanded by only 2.1%.
"We accounted for 80% of the increase in Swedish tourism last year in terms of the number of guest nights. It's incredibly enjoyable to have this positive trend, and everything points to strong growth also this year," said Lars Isacson, MD SCR (Sweden's camping organization).
At the SCR annual meeting in March, Stone Fylkner, owner of First Camp, Sweden's largest chain, was given the camping business award. In addition, Andrew Berg, from Dragsö camping in Karlskrona, received an honorary "Thumbs Up" recognition as outstanding young entrepreneur.
Overall in 2009, online, internet, bookings accounted for 84% of the camping business, which totaled 30% of all guest nights in Sweden. "Today's travelers are looking for information online, so it is nice that we can help both with a good booking feature and an inspirational meeting place for ideas and inspiration," remarked Isacson.
More info, see: http://www.camping.se and http://www.scr.se

Overall increase of overnights in Sweden
Foreigners stayed overnight in Swedish facilities 3.3 percent more during 2009 than in 2008, while travel to and within the EU dropped by over 5 percent. Tourists and visitors from abroad contributed to record volumes in Sweden, although the hikes were mainly at less expensive places like campsites (6.1 percent) and private homes (4.4 percent). Hotel occupancy remained about the same as the previous year, but private rooms dropped by 3 percent and total accommodation revenues decreased by almost 5.2 percent.
”To create long-term growth within Swedish tourism and the tourism business, promotion of Sweden itself must be accompanied by a coordination of tourism promotion at the national level, "says Christina Lugnet, Director General of the new Agency for Growth (TIllväxtverket), which is responsible for promoting entrepreneurial activity and secure competitiveness throughout Sweden in many areas. The agency is part of a reorganization in 2009 and is administered under Department of Commerce. promotion of tourism and official tourism statistics. Overall, 51.8 million overnight stays were generated in the Swedish housing facilities in 2009. The incoming Nordic market increased by almost 12 percent. Countries such as Poland (35 percent) and Italy (20 percent) grew strongly, but overnight stays from Europe as a whole fell by nearly 2 percent.